A Leap of Faith Life
She’s Got a Story: Amanda
The sweet smell of hay hung in the air as we sat tucked away from the wind. Here in the barn, surrounded by horses softly munching, it was easy to forget the large and loud life Amanda really leads.
Mom of ten kids (homeschooling seven of them), caring for a medically fragile foster daughter, and running a small farm, Amanda’s days are crazy. “Oh, I love my crazy. It’s the most beautiful crazy in the whole entire world. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I wouldn’t trade what we have or the kids that have come to us and the way that they came. I cannot imagine my life without those kids. They make me crazy and want to pull my hair out sometimes. But at the end of the day, I’d rather be crazy and pulling my hair out than not have them.”
The family farm is a new project. One that found the big family moving out of a large house in the town into a house half the size nestled amongst farm buildings and fields. “We moved, so I can do this.” She gestures to the barn. “Because I really feel that this is what is our next thing. I want to know where our food comes from. I want to know that I can feed my family.”
A love for animals and love for her community have collided to birth this dream. “One of my big things is I want to know where my food comes from. And I want to be able to know that my food was cared for and loved, and treated with respect and dignity. I want to be able to help my community by giving them a healthy, good food source. I’m trying to do something different. I want to help.”
Amanda’s dreams for the farm are big. They include more animals, selling reasonably priced meat, running kids’ programs, running uplifting social media about their life, and even opening the farm up for photographers to do baby animal sessions in the spring.
“We are going to name the farm Leap of Faith Farm & Stables, because that fits our life.” While the name was inspired by a horse they lost last year, the farm name fits so many facets of Amanda’s life. “That’s where we are. Let’s take a leap of faith and figure all this out. So, we take it day by day. I don’t want to make a million dollars, but I want to make enough money here to be able to get back to the community. I’d like for kids to come so we can do programs for them. And I want to feed people. I have this big vision in my head, I’m just trying to figure out how to get there.”
Along the way to those dreams, Amanda and her husband are raising a large family of children who came to them in a multitude of ways. It’s a life and a calling that asks much of her, but fueled by Jesus and caffeine, she takes it all on. “You know that line from the song, talking to Jesus, ‘I want them to see more of you and less of me.’ (it’s a Casting Crowns song) That’s what it’s all about for me.”
Amanda and I went to church together when our now college kids were in middle school. Amanda’s heart for her children, and for children in general, has always amazed me. Sitting in her barn while her pony nibbled my sweater, kids ran in and out with funny anecdotes, and we mixed the interview with catching up, I watched Amanda with renewed respect. She loves big, and easily, and with an unflappable air. Whether it's folding foster kids into the family, showing up for her community, or finding a way for her donkey not to be scared of their sheep, Amanda can make space for people & animals and love them all genuinely.
Some of the super cute (and fun) photos I took at the farm. I was obsessed with the goats!
